According to the Constitution the flags is "red with a
white stripe". In fact it is not really red but almost
brown.giuseppe bottasini

Dr. Karlis Ulmanis, first Prime Minister and last President of
Latvia before the Soviet invasion in 1940 described the meaning
of the colors thus:

"Our red-white-red colors! What do they tell him who
loves his native country ardently? White stands for right and
truth, the honor of free citizens and trustworthiness. But
the red reminds us of the blood that has been shed in the
recent past. It has been shed at all times in the remote past
and we are ready to offer it again for freedom and
independence, for our nation and country."

According to "Flags of All Nations" by Cleveland H.
Smith and Gertrude R. Taylor (Thomas Y. Crowell Co., New York,
1946; pg.101):

"The Letts used the juice of berries to make the
crimson for their original flag. Latvian poets say that the
red in the flag indicates the readiness of the Latvians to
give blood of their hearts for their freedom, which was
represented by the white in the flag."

According to Album 2000 [pay00]
- National Flag (CS-/C-- 1:2) - Red-white-red triband, ratio of
struipes 2+1+2. Latvians still call it simply red, at least in
legislation.eljko Heimer, 8 April 2002

I came across a company's website (<www.karogufabrika.lv>),
where they list the official color of the "Latvian red"
as PMS 1807C. This color was apprently chosen by the Heraldic
Commission back in 1995 (April 11th). The page also give the
official specs as well as a list of flag flying holidays in
Latvia. Ivan Sache, 25 April 2002

"Expatica"
reports on 26 February 2009 a government issue on the colour of
the Latvian flag.
"[...] Part of the Latvian government is turning its
attention to whether the national flag is the right colour.
The Baltic state's foreign ministry has noticed that several
different shades of red are being used on flags that are
commercially available.
As a result, it is proposing the establishment of a
"national symbols commission" which would regulate the
quality of flags and their compliance with uniform standards.
"The intention is to set up a commission that would regulate
the exact size, shape and colour of the flag," said a
foreign ministry spokesman. "It is important that exactly
the right Pantone colour is used -- the dark red that we call
Latvian red.
The spokesman said there is also a plan to introduce an official
pennant, similar to those in many of the Scandinavian countries.
This would prevent flagpoles being empty for much of the
year.
Some foreign diplomats eager to observe correct protocol have
been confused by the variety of "Latvian" flags and the
symbols commission could also encourage the use of the European
Union flag alongside the national flag on government buildings,
the spokesman added. The commission would have the power to
restrict what could be sold as a Latvian flag and would issue
permits to certified flag makers.Ivan Sache, 27 February 2009

The protocol manual for the
London 2012 Olympics (Flags and Anthems Manual
London 2012 [loc12]) provides recommendations
for national flag designs. Each
NOC was sent an image of the flag,
including the PMS shades, for their approval by LOCOG. Once this was obtained, LOCOG produced
a 60 x 90 cm version of the flag for further approval. So, while these specs may
not be the official, government, version of each flag, they are certainly what
the NOC believed the flag to be.
For Latvia: PMS 1807. The vertical flag is simply the horizontal version turned
90 degrees clockwise.Ian Sumner, 10 October 2012

Latvia has also adopted a vimpel but I am not certain when it
was adopted or what regulations it has. The information,
including the construction sheet, is at <www.saeima.lv>
(Latvian only). The ratio is 5x17x1 and the portions of 2:1:2 is
kept throughout the banner. Zachary Harden, 15 March 2010

Every house or office building must wear flag. There is also
penalty (until 50 Ls - ~90 USD) for not displaying flag in days
mentioned above or displaying wrong, corrupt, dirty, without
ribbon, wrong mast or staff.
More details at see <www.latinst.lv>Gvido Pētersons, 9 January 2003